CAF: Players Union threatens clubs over unpaid salaries

The National Association of Nigerian Professional Footballers (NANPF) otherwise known as Players Union has
appealed to all clubs that qualified for the 2017 Confederation of African
Football (CAF) competitions, to settle all outstanding debts owe players and
coaches or face disqualification.

According to a release signed by the Union National Public
Relations Officer, Ogidi Mohammed Mutairu, the clubs: Rangers International FC
of Enugu, Rivers United FC of Port Harcourt and Wikki Tourists FC of Bauchi
faces debarment from CAF competitions.

The release reads in part: "In the Light of the above, we as
the recognized labour union passionately championing the cause of professional
footballers in Nigeria are concerned that in the midst of the jamboree and
fanfare that followed the achievement of these clubs, the purported cash gifts
and allocations, to these clubs following their success, they seem to have
sworn to starve players and Coaches of these salaries and as usual disobey NFF
Arbitration Committee decisions It is our insistence that this culture of clubs
depriving players and coaches of their livelihood must stop."

It threatens to invoke Article 3.1of the CAF Club Licensing
Regulations, which disqualifies clubs on ground of no breach of contract by not
paying its players and coaches their entitlements.

"Consequently, we have written to the Nigerian Clubs that
qualified for 2017 CAF Competition and their Commissioners of Sports in their
respective States clarifying the following: That It is in the best Interest of
the players, coaches, the club, the country and image of the game, that the
clubs liquidates all these debts for current and former players and obey the
NFF arbitral decisions without delay.

"That refusal, delay or neglect of payment is a “mortal sin”
that will lead to unintended consequences and golden embarrassment, as the club
will have to contend with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in
express breach of Article 3.1 of the CAF Club Licensing Regulations."

Players Union claims to have received complaints from players and
coaches that these clubs heavily owe players and coaches huge sums of money in
form of salaries including the 2014/2015 season salaries.